Safety & Risk Management

Calif. May Loosen Driverless Car Testing Rules

October 11, 2017
• by Staff

Photo of self-driving car courtesy of Waymo/FCA.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has released new proposed autonomous vehicle testing regulations, scrapping an existing requirement that a human driver must be behind the steering wheel to take control if needed.

The proposed regulations are expected to take effect by June 2018, according to the department.

“We are excited to take the next step in furthering the development of this potentially life-saving technology in California,” said California Transportation Secretary Brian Kelly.

In a released statement, the California DMV said changes to the proposed rules reflect new guidelines released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as stakeholder feedback received in the past seven months. The previous version of the proposed regulations was released on March 10. The DMV will accept public comments on the newly proposed rules until Oct. 25.

These regulations, if enacted, are expected to position California to better compete with other states — including Michigan, Texas, Arizona and Florida — that have looser restrictions on autonomous vehicle testing. California wants to protect and build upon its status as a hub for autonomous vehicle technology.

The state is back-pedaling from earlier efforts to impose restrictions affecting autonomous vehicle design and performance standards.

“The proposed regulations recognize that responsibility for motor vehicle safety resides at the federal level, and the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) is vested with the authority to develop and enforce compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS),” the California DMV said. The state would, however, require manufacturers to certify that their self-driving vehicles meet federal safety standards before testing and deployment.

Newly proposed regulatory changes also address requirements for local notification about planned driverless testing, standards for reporting autonomous system disengagement incidents, and conditions that would prompt the need for an amended DMV application.

In California, autonomous vehicle testing regulations have been in place since 2014. A total of 42 companies hold permits to test such cars on the state’s public roads.

“The department looks forward to seeing those companies and additional companies advance the technology under these new regulations,” said Jean Shiomoto, California DMV director. “Today’s action continues the department’s efforts to complete these regulations by the end of the year.”

Police have seen a spike in thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles in recent years, especially in California, according to a new video report based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

The percentage of occupants fatally injured in a motor vehicle collision increased as the vehicle's age increased, according to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

As Barry Pottle, President of Pottle’s Transportation states, “Drivers are the biggest asset in any company.” When accidents happen, you need a way to protect them and SmartDrive does that.
Get started today with the SmartDrive Video-Base Safety Program

Nearly 6,000 pedestrians lost their lives in crashes in 2016, which equates to 16% of all crash fatalities. That's a 46% increase in pedestrian fatalities since reaching their lowest point in 2009, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

If given a choice, a whopping 75% of U.S. drivers said they would still rather drive than ride in an autonomous vehicle with 71% noting that they would miss the act of driving, according to a recent survey by CariD.

Subaru has begun offering an online tool that allows fleets to search for open recalls using the vehicle identification number through the Carfax used vehicle platform. The service is offered at no cost.